About the song
Few artists have captured the American spirit quite like **Willie Nelson**. With his unmistakable voice, heartfelt songwriting, and a life story that reads like a novel, Nelson stands as a living legend of country music. Over the years, he has sung about love, loss, freedom, rebellion, and redemption. But in his later years, Nelson has turned his focus inward, offering quiet reflections on aging and mortality with a sincerity that only comes from experience. One powerful example of this is the song **”It Gets Easier”**, released in 2017 on his album *God’s Problem Child*.
**”It Gets Easier”** is not a song of nostalgia or regret—it is a gentle, honest meditation on growing older. At 83 years old, Willie Nelson sings not with sorrow, but with acceptance. The lyrics, “It gets easier to say not today,” carry a bittersweet weight. They suggest that as we age, we begin to let go of the pressures we once felt. The need to prove ourselves, to argue, to rush through life—it all begins to fade. And in its place comes a kind of quiet clarity.
What makes this song so powerful is its simplicity. There are no dramatic crescendos or flashy solos. The music is sparse, almost bare, allowing Nelson’s voice—softened by time but still rich with character—to take the lead. Listening to **”It Gets Easier”** feels like sitting beside an old friend who is calmly, and maybe a little humorously, telling you that it’s okay to slow down.
For many listeners, especially those navigating the later chapters of life, this song offers both comfort and perspective. **Willie Nelson** reminds us that aging isn’t just about decline—it’s also about growth, wisdom, and learning to let go. In just a few minutes, he manages to capture something many people spend a lifetime trying to put into words.
Video
Lyrics
It gets easier, as we get older
It gets easier to say “not today”
And it gets easier, as we get older
To say “go away and not today”
I don’t have to do
One damn thing
That I don’t want to do
Except for missing you
And that won’t go away
It gets easier to say “some other time”
It gets easier to tell the world to wait
And it gets easier to watch the world fly by
And tell it, “I will catch up, but not today”
I don’t have to do
One damn thing
That I don’t want to do
Except for missing you
And that won’t go away
Except for missing you
And that won’t go away
